If someone on the TPU WCG Team needs parts because a Cruncher is down...or has spares to get a Cruncher up this is the thread.

This thread is not going to sidestep the TPU For Sale subforum or any of the Terms of Service here. This is about Crunchers helping Crunchers. PM for advice if unsure how or what to post

I'll start.

I had to decommision some rigs. I have a lot of odds and ends. I don't really want to sell my gear...if I did I would post up a For Sale thread. But I am willing to help out a fellow Team Member in a pinch. PM.

We use our machines spare cycles to run an application called BOINC. This application hooks into a project server, like at World Community Grid (WCG), to perform research for projects. These projects include finding cures for cancer and other diseases. There are also projects to help grow better rice crops and one for energy research. Running this application is known as "crunching".

We volunteer our time and resources to do this. The results of the research are then made available for the entire world.

What we commonly refer to as a "cruncher rig" is a rig that does nothing but crunch. It is solely dedicated to doing this work. Some of us have our main rigs to play games, surf, work, etc on. We also maintain a group of "cruncher rigs". When you have more than one of those, you have what we call a "crunching farm". Some of the bigger farmers, like Rammie, run dozens of these machines. It can get quite addicting and bend your credit card if you want.

Cruncher rigs can be strange beasts. You usually want as fast and as highly overclocked CPU and Mobo as you can get. Good cooling is desirable since this machine will run 24/7/365, if you do it right. Clocking RAM does not seem to matter much. Since this machine is dedicated to crunching, there is no need for a high powered vid card. So, some folks have taken to running old PCI vid cards. Others even run without video and control the machine remotely.

In my case, I have had a lot of people I know and love go away from cancer. I donated a good portion of money to cancer research but didn't know how it was used. I still donate, but now it grows my cruncher farm. This way I can contribute directly and see how efficient I can make my contribution be. I run a total of 16 overclocked quads, spread across 3 WCG accounts.

We use our machines spare cycles to run an application called BOINC. This application hooks into a project server, like at World Community Grid (WCG), to perform research for projects. These projects include finding cures for cancer and other diseases. There are also projects to help grow better rice crops and one for energy research. Running this application is known as "crunching".

We volunteer our time and resources to do this. The results of the research are then made available for the entire world.

What we commonly refer to as a "cruncher rig" is a rig that does nothing but crunch. It is solely dedicated to doing this work. Some of us have our main rigs to play games, surf, work, etc on. We also maintain a group of "cruncher rigs". When you have more than one of those, you have what we call a "crunching farm". Some of the bigger farmers, like Rammie, run dozens of these machines. It can get quite addicting and bend your credit card if you want.

Cruncher rigs can be strange beasts. You usually want as fast and as highly overclocked CPU and Mobo as you can get. Good cooling is desirable since this machine will run 24/7/365, if you do it right. Clocking RAM does not seem to matter much. Since this machine is dedicated to crunching, there is no need for a high powered vid card. So, some folks have taken to running old PCI vid cards. Others even run without video and control the machine remotely.

In my case, I have had a lot of people I know and love go away from cancer. I donated a good portion of money to cancer research but didn't know how it was used. I still donate, but now it grows my cruncher farm. This way I can contribute directly and see how efficient I can make my contribution be. I run a total of 16 overclocked quads, spread across 3 WCG accounts.

This is a great way to find a good home for those old rigs. Those of us that have become addicted to Crunching probably have high powered rigs that have surplanted our earlier Crunchers. Those early crunchers could still be helping the cause.

I have a Q6600 in my dedicated cruncher that runs kind of hot. I'd love to get a hold of a 45nm quad for a higher OC and more efficient crunching. If I can work out a deal with someone, it would be great.

On the flip side, if I could get a hold of a 45nm, I'd donate the Q6600 to another aspiring cruncher. I also have a bunch of miscellaneous parts around, including a decent wireless-N router and PCI adapter to match, if anyone could use it for wireless crunching.